Ezekiel 20:36

36 Like as I litigated with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will litigate with you, said the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 20:36 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:36

Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the
land of Egypt
Which was opposite the land of Egypt, near unto it, on the borders of it; and into which the people immediately went, when they came out of Egypt, and passed the Red sea; and the Arabic version is,

``when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.''

This refers to the controversy the Lord had with the Israelites for murmuring upon the report of the spies; and the sentence he passed upon them, that they should not enter into the land of Canaan, but their carcasses should fall in the wilderness, ( Numbers 14:29 Numbers 14:30 ) : so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God;
take vengeance on them, as the Targum; who disbelieve the Messiah, reject him, and will not have him to reign over them; these are now punished, by a dispersion of them in the wilderness of the nations, where they die and perish, and see not their own land.

Ezekiel 20:36 In-Context

34 and I will bring you out from among the peoples and will gather you out of the countries in which ye are scattered with a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of peoples, and there I will litigate with you face to face.

36 Like as I litigated with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will litigate with you, said the Lord GOD.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels and those that rebelled against me; I will take them out of the country where they have gone, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.